Process of bleaching wax



(Specimens.)

W BRUENING PROCESS OF BLEAGHING WAX. No. 421,904.

Patented Pby25. 1890.

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N. Ptjriks mwLim -whw. vii-mu n20 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFI E.

WVILLIAH BRUENING, OF EAST ORANGE, NElV JERSEY.

PROCESS OF BLEACHING WAX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 421,904, dated February25, 1890. Application filed August 3, 1889. $erial No. 319,671.(Specimens) To all whom it may concern.-

Be 1t known that 1, WILLIAM BRUENING, a

citizen of the United States, and aresident of East Orange, in thecounty of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented anew and usefulImprovement in Processes for Bleaching Wax, of which the following is aspecification. I V

For a great number of uses to which wax is appropriated it is necessarythat it should be perfectly white. For this end wax has been bleached byexposing fine shreds, strips, or sheets of wax on a bleaching-ground tothe action of light, air, and moisture, then remelting it, and repeatingthe operation of remelting and exposing, so as to make the bleachingcomplete throughout. Wax has also been bleached by the use of chlorineor by mixing with an emulsion of Wax or with molten wax alkalinesalts-such as nitrates or chromatesand gradually stirring in sulphuricacid. The repeated reduction of wax into fine shreds or thin strips andsheets involves much time and labor, while in the other methods the waxmust be hot or liquid and demands continual attention. I

The object of my invention is to save time and labor in the process ofbleaching; and for this purpose my invention consists in reducing thewax to a fine powder by atomizing molten wax by steam or air jets,collecting the powder, and exposing the same to some bleaching agent.

In carrying out my invention I use, by preference, apparatus such asillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is avertical section of the atomi-zing apparatus; Fig. 2, a section of theapparatus for bleaching, and Fig. 3 an elevation of the wash-barrel.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

A, Fig. 1, is a tank or barrel for melting wax; a, a steam-coil withinthe tank; Z), a pipe leading from the barrel A to a trough B, andprovided with a cock 0. The trough B is provided with a steam-jacketorheated by other suitable means.

O is an atomizer, consisting of a series of parallel steam-nozzles (Zand a series of suction-pipes 6, connected to the nozzles and dippinginto the molten wax in the trough B.

D is a chamber, the walls of which are formed of muslin supported on alight framework.

fis a pipe or bag leading from the top of the chamber D into a tank g.

A water-spray apparatus his placed into the top of the pipe or bag f.

Fig. 2 represents the bleaching apparatus.

E is a retort for gen erating chlorine gas, and F a water-sealed chamberformed by the fixed tank 2' and the suspended top j. A pipe in leadsfrom the generator E to the upper part of the chamber F.

Z is a tray for atomized wax.

G, Fig. 2, is awash-barrel of the usual construction.

The wax is first melted in the tank A, whence a regulated supply isadmitted into the trough B. The steam-jets draw the wax from the troughand atomize it. At the same vtime the jets draw into the chamber more orless cold air, which reduces the temperature. The air escapes throughthe walls of the chamber, and the cooling and condensation of the steamare assisted by the spray of water from h. The cold air originallycontained in the chamber aids in reducing the temperature, and thelarger the chamber in proportion to the capacity of the jets the longerthe process can be continued without interruption. The atomized wax isremoved from time to time, sifted, put on the tray Z, and placed intothe bleaching apparatus, Fig. 2, where it is bleached by exposure to theaction of chlorine gas. The bleached wax is repeatedly washed in abarrel, Fig. 3. It is then melted in water and run oif into hot water inthe usual manner.

I do not restrict myself to the use of the apparatus shown anddescribed, nor to any particular bleaching agent. I have also usedcompressed air for atomizing in place of steam.

Any kind of chamber may be used with the atomizer, provided itbe keptcool' enough to prevent melting of the atomized wax.

lVhen compressed air is used for atomizing, the danger of melting theWax is obviated; but I prefer steam, which, in connection with air andlight, has a bleaching effeet, so that by repeated atomizing alone theycollecting the resulting powder, and bleaching the same by exposure tolight, air, and moisture, or by any other known bleaching agent,substantially as described.

2. The process of preparing Wax for bleaching,which consists inatomizing the same by a jet of steam or gas, substantially as and forthe purpose specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have signed myname, in presence of two Witnesses, this 31st day of July,

' WILLIAM BRUENING.

Witnesses: r

H. W.- HELFER, A. FABER DU FAUR.

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